In a deal signed Friday by both Finnish and Estonian authorities, the countries agree to take further steps towards the building of two LNG terminals on either side of the Gulf of Finland. A pipeline is to connect the two plants, Yle reports.

The agreement prepares the way for a feasibility study on the project, Gasum informs in a press release.

If built, the plants will make both countries fully independent of gas imports from Russia. Currently, gas accounts for about 10 percent the Finnish Total Primary Energy Supply (TPES) and Russia is the country’s only import source.

All gas imports are managed by Gasum, the company which now is leading the way in the LNG project. The Finnish-Estonian agreement comes only one week after Gasum acquired a 51 percent share of the LNG distribution business of the Norwegian company Skangass.

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Russia is prepared to protect its interests in the Arctic with military means if necessary, says Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu, pointing to the increasing interest in the region’s resources by countries with no direct access to the Arctic.

“Ship-to-ship reloading of oil in icy-waters outside Kirkenes is a great example that Norway jeopardizes nature by lowering safety standards in our race for industrialization of the north,” says Lars Haltbrekken, head of the Norwegian Society for the conservation of Nature.

This February the hotels of Rovaniemi, Lapland have been full to the brim with customers. Usually this many people stay in hotels in the northern city only during the Christmas season, but this year the tourist boom will continue into March at least.

Development of tourism is one of Russia’s prioritized areas to secure its presence on the archipelago of Svalbard. The state company Trust Arktikugol is now registered as a tour operator and could welcome its first guests to the Arctic wilderness.

The UK needs to up its game in the Arctic or risk being «outmaneuvered” by other states, and should start by appointing an ambassador to the region, according to a report by the House of Lords Arctic Committee.

“Whatever the pressure, Rakurs will continue to support LGBT community, to provide legal and psychological help. And we are going to challenge this wrongful decision in the court,” says Tatiana Vinnichenko, head of the organization.